Jamaican in ICE custody dies in hospital

NEW ORLEANS, United States (CMC) — The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says a 47-year-old Jamaican man in its custody has died at Lafayette General Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana.

ICE said the cause of death is believed to be cardiac arrest.

It said Roger Rayson, who was transferred from the LaSalle Detention Facility to LaSalle General Hospital on February 11 for nausea, vomiting and increased pain, died on Monday.

“Consistent with agency protocols, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have been advised of the death, as have the [US] Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility,” ICE said, adding that it has also informed Jamaican consular officials and the deceased’s next of kin.

ICE said Rayson was arrested on November 24, 2014, by US Customs and Border Protection in Miami for possession of cocaine.

On April 24, 2015, Rayson was convicted of importation of cocaine and sentenced to 30 months incarceration by the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The Federal Bureau of Prisons released Rayson to the custody of New Orleans ICE on January 28, 2017.

Rayson is the second detainee to pass away in ICE custody so far this year and his death comes as US President Donald Trump has vowed a hiring surge of 10,000 immigration and customs officers to accelerate the deportation of unauthorised Caribbean and other immigrants.